Justice News

Schenectady Man Sentenced for Possession of Handgun as a Convicted Felon

Tameen “Nitty” Johnson Was Found “Guilty” Following a Jury Trial

ALBANY, NEW YORK – Tameen “Nitty” Johnson, 39, of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced today to serve 235 months in prison for illegally possessing a loaded handgun as a prior convicted felon. Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy also ordered that Johnson serve a five-year term of supervised release following his release from federal prison.

The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

After a three-day jury trial in January 2017, Johnson was convicted of possessing a Hi-Point JCP .40 caliber firearm loaded with seven rounds of .40 caliber ammunition. The evidence at trial established the handgun had a defaced serial number and that Johnson provided it to another man inside a convenience store in Schenectady in exchange for $200. Johnson, after asking if the firearm would be used “to book somebody,” showed the man how to operate the firearm so that he could “handle his business,” and repeatedly warned him not to lose the “hammer.”

Johnson, who was charged as an Armed Career Criminal because he has at least three previous convictions for serious drug offenses or violent felonies, faced a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Johnson’s prior criminal history includes prior felony convictions for drug offenses, attempted robbery, attempted burglary, and assault.

This prosecution resulted from an investigation by the Capital District Safe Streets Task Force, which includes members of the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the New York State Police, the Schenectady Police Department, the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, and the New York Air National Guard.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wayne A. Myers.